Sandspit vote results available next week

Sandspit residents will have to wait until later this month to hear whether proposed tax increases to support the fire department, the community hall and street lights will be going ahead. The regional district used an “alternate approval process” for the three property taxes, which proposed increases ranging from a maximum of $2 per $1,000 of net taxable value for the fire department, a maximum of 50 cents per $1,000 for the community hall, and up to 30 cents per $1,000 for street lighting. The alternate approval process gave voters until March 8 to formally object to any of the proposed increases. Although that deadline has passed, regional district administrator Joan Merrick said she is now counting the responses and checking that everyone who filled out the form is an eligible voter. The results will be made public at the March 23 regional district meeting in Prince Rupert, she said.